Aero fin removal system



July 21, 1964 E. w. TRAVIS ETAL AERO FIN REMOVAL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2. 1961 INVENTORS ELMER W. TRAVIS CARL. L. WAGNER,JR

y 1964 E. w. TRAVIS ETAL 3,141,409

AERO FIN REMOVAL SYSTEM Filed Marsh 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ. ELMER w. TRAVIS CARL WAGNER,JR

United States Patent Ofifice 3,141,409 Patented July 21, 1964 3,141,409 AERO FIN REMOVAL SYSTEM Elmer W. Travis, Clarksville, and Carl L. Wagner, Jr., Silver Spring, Md., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Mar. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 93,001 1 Claim. (Cl. 1027) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a novel rocket propelled depth bomb or torpedo that is fired from a submerged submarine, travels through the air to its designated target area where it re-enters the water to attack a submerged target. More specifically, this invention relates to the instantaneous and simultaneous removal of the aerodynamic movable fins, or wings controlling the depth bomb during flight, just prior to water rc-entry.

In the operation of a novel rocket propelled depth bomb or torpedo used by one submarine to attack and sink an enemy submarine, it is essential to have a control means for steering and guiding the depth bomb on course during air flight. It is also essential that the control means for guiding the air flight of the depth bomb be removed or made ineffective as it re-enters the water if an erratic underwater trajectory is to be avoided. By removal of the control means the depth bomb will be aerodynamically clean thereby continuing a predetermined course through the water.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved control means for guiding and controlling an underwater-to-underwater depth bomb during air flight.

Another object is to provide a new and improved control means that may be removed substantially and simultaneously from the depth bomb just prior to water entry.

A further object of this invention is to remove the control means from the depth bomb within a few micro-seconds before it enters the water leaving it aerodynamically clean.

Still another object is to provide an underwater-tounderwater depth bomb having self contained apparatus for removing the rotatable control means.

Yet another object is to provide an underwater-tounderwater rocket propelled depth bomb with areodynamic guide fins that may be removed by exploding a plurality of charges just prior to water entry.

A still further object is to provide a plurality of removable fins which is simple in structure and positive in operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings and wherein;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rocket propelled depth bomb employing the aerodynamic fins of the present invention for guiding and controlling the bomb during flight;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the aerodynamic fin assembly with the explosive chamber and connected electrical housing contained therein; and

FIG. 3 is another exploded view of a portion of the aerodynamic fin assembly with a detail view of the explosive device and the control circuit connected thereto.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a depth bomb 11 with the removable control fin members 12 each attached thereto by a connecting rod 13 which rotates the fin. The depth bomb 11 is controlled during flight in roll,

yaw and pitch by controlled movement of the four control fins.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the control fins structure in greater detail. Each of the fin members 12 is attached to connecting rod member 13 in any manner well-known in the art, such as welding. The connecting rod has a V groove 14 completely around the circumference of the rod in close proximity to the outside surface of the bomb.

Connecting rod 13 is mounted in a circular ball bearing 15 for easy rotation. The bearing 15 is held in place on the missile casing by shoulder 16 and a retaining ring 17. That portion of the rod member 13 located near the outer surface has a shoulder 18 machined to a close tolerance with respect to the aperture 19. A portion of shoulder 18 is in contact with bearing 15. An obturater ring 20 is located in groove 21 of shoulder 18 to form a watertight seal with aperture 19. The obturater ring may be made of rubber or other suitable material. Control lever 22 is located on the lower portion of connecting rod 13 by means of a spline connection 44 and is locked tightly in place against bearing 15 by nut 23. Control lever 22 is connected to a pair of hydraulically operated push rods (not shown) for rotating the rod and tin assembly during flight. Connecting rod 13 has an internal cavity 24 that extends beyond the outside surface of the bomb past the V groove 14, substantially as shown.

An explosive container 25 is inserted into cavity 24 with the electrical connections located in housing 27.

Refer now to FIG. 3 wherein the explosive container 25 is mounted in cavity 24 by means of a screw thread 28. Shoulder portion 29 of the container is tightened against connecting rod 13 and nut 23 thereby locking nut 23 in place. The explosive container 25 has two electrorcsponsive explosive charges 30 and 31 mounted therein, as shown in FIG. 2, in the area of the cavity adjacent the V groove in the connecting rod. The electro-responsive charges and the electrical wiring 32 connected thereto are held in place in container 25 by an insulating material 33, such as plastic. A pair of circular contacts 34 and 35 are located in an insulating material 36 mounted on one end of the container. The insulating material is rigidly attached to the container substantially as shown in FIG. 2.

A longitudinal aperture medially located in the insulating material and the attached container is utilized as a passage by the electrical wiring and connects the circular contacts with the electro-responsive charges. An electrical connection is made between the elcctroresponsive charges and the circular contacts by insulated wires 32 located in the aperture 37 with the appropriate connections. Part of container 25 with the insulated circular contacts 34 and 35 mounted thereon is located in the electrical housing 27. A collar 38 is located on container 25 and contains the locking device 49 for maintaining the connecting rod 13 in housing 27. Collar 33 has a plu rality of apertures 46 therein. A plurality of steel balls 47, of slightly larger diameter than the apertures 46 in which they reside, are held in place by a steel s ring ring 48. As container 25 is inserted into housing 27 the steel ball snaps into recess 49 of the container, locking the housing in the proper position.

A pair of circular yieldable type connectors 41 and 42 are located in such a manner as to be in electrical contact with ring connectors 34 and 35 when properly locked in position. This floating commutator style connector assembly allows the fin assembly freedom of movement yet maintains electrical Contact to the detonators at all times regardless of the position of the rotatable fins.

Appropriate cable connector 43 is used to connect the yieldable connections with a controlled power source 45.

At a predetermined time before water re-entry an electrical signal is sent through the ring connectors to the electroresponsive charges in the fin assembly. The electro-responsive charges fire and sever the fin from the depth bomb. Two separate detonating signal systems are maintained in the depth bomb with one electro-responsive charge from each container connected to each system. If at least one detonator in each connecting rod receives current of the proper magnitude, it will set off the remaining detonator in the container and remove the fin.

Applicants novel invention provides a means for removing a control fin from a missile or bomb fast at any desired time. The fin used with applicants invention must be made of substantial material to withstand the wind pressure at very high speeds and yet be removable in a few micro-seconds before the bomb or missile hits the water. If the control fins are not removed before the bomb hits the water the bomb or missile could have an erratic underwater trajectory which might result in a complete miss.

It is deemed obvious that applicants invention has solved a long standing need in the missile art.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A depth bomb having a removable fin structure, said structure comprising a fin for controlling and guiding said bomb, connecting rod means attached to said fin and rotatably mounted on said depth bomb for rotating said fin, said connecting rod means having a weakened portion approximately on line with the outside surface of said bomb, a chamber having an internal opening located in said connecting rod means and extending through the weakened portion thereof, an electro-responsive charge located in said chamber in the area of the weakened portion of said rod means and circuit means comprising an electrical commutator connector mounted on said connecting rod means connected to said electro-responsive charge for detonating said charge whereby said detonated charge will remove said fin and a portion of said connecting rod means from said bomb independently of the position of rotation of said connecting rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,653,504 Smith Sept. 29, 1953 2,937,824 Krumbholz et a1. May 24, 1960 2,992,794 Boyd July 18, 1961 

